Nursing - Executive Leadership Concentration, (MSN)

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MSN Degree

Admission

Because the University seeks to provide in as much as possible a reasonably safe environment for its health career students and their patients, students may be required during the course of the program to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such essential requirements include freedom from communicable diseases, the ability to perform certain physical tasks, and suitable emotional fitness. Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and/or emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, so as not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of disability.

Core performance standards for admission and progression:

Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment.
Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.
Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.
Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.
Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.

Admission Requirements

Admission to both the Graduate School and the Loewenberg College of Nursing is required. Admission to the program will be based on competitive selection from the pool of applicants. Multiple criteria will be used when considering applicant admission including, but not limited to, letter of interest, undergraduate and graduate grade point averages, professional experience, applicant interview, and letters of recommendation.

Admission Requirements for MSN Applicants:
1. Admission to the University of Memphis Graduate School
2. Admission to the Loewenberg College of Nursing graduate nursing program.
3. An undergraduate minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
4. Letter of interest which discusses prior professional experience, future career goals, and reasons for pursuing graduate study.
5. Letters of recommendation from three persons qualified and familiar to judge the applicant’s academic and professional background and experience in nursing practice, specifying in detail the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study and for future practice as an advanced practice nurse.
6. Interview with LCON graduate faculty if requested by Admissions Committee.
7. Submission of current professional resume
8. Applicants for whom English is not their primary language are required to meet the University’s minimum required TOEFL score: paper based 550 or greater; internet based 79; or 213 computer based.
9. Eligibility to practice as a Registered Nurse in Tennessee or in an approved state in which the clinical assignments are completed. Appropriate licensure/authorization must be obtained during the first semester following admission to the program.
10. Students transferring from another graduate nursing program must submit a letter of good standing and transcript from the dean/director of the previous nursing program.
11. The standardized admission test is successful completion of the NCLEX licensing examination.
12. Successful completion of 3 semester hour or 4 quarter hour undergraduate statistics course.
Admission Requirements for individuals with a BSN Degree
1. Completion of BSN
2. An unrestricted registered nursing license to practice in Tennessee or license to practice in an approved state in which clinical assignments are to be completed.
Admission Requirements for Registered Nurse Applicants with a BA/BS non-nursing major
1. An unrestricted registered nursing license to practice in Tennessee or license to practice in an approved state in which clinical assignments are to be completed.
2. Completion of a 12-unit RN/MSN nursing bridge sequence. RN/MSN graduates will not be awarded the BSN degree.
Students admitted to MSN program, or post master’s certificate programs must have and maintain while in the program:
1. An unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in Tennessee or license to practice in an approved state in which clinical assignments are to be completed.
2. Current CPR certification.
3. Evidence of hepatitis B (Heptavax); measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); polio; tetanus, diptheria, pertussis (Tdap), and varicella vaccinations and/or titers if available.
4. Freedom from tuberculosis as evidenced by a negative PPD or health provider examination.
5. Annual flu shot vaccination, unless medically contraindicated.
6. Evidence of current professional malpractice insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 in the aggregate.

MSN Program Requirements

Students enrolled in the MSN program must complete 36-46 semester hours (based on concentration area) with the minimum overall grade point average of 3.0.

Executive Leadership (Executive MSN)

The Executive MSN program prepares nurses for management and executive nursing positions in various health care setting systems. The Executive Leadership MSN program is based upon well founded principles, including the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet® Recognition Program 5 Model Components. The American Organization of Nurse Executive (AONE) Competencies, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)Executive Nurse Fellows Program, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing. The program is an academic partner of the ANCC Magnet® Recognition Program.

Core Curriculum

Executive Leadership Concentration Required Courses

Progression and Retention Requirements

Students in the Loewenberg College of Nursing graduate program must comply with all retention standards of the University of Memphis Graduate School.
Students must earn a grade of “B” or better in all clinical and lab courses (NURS 7102 ; NURS 7602 ; NURS 7604 ; NURS 7606 ; NURS 7609 ; NURS 7207 ; NURS 7209 ; NURS 7307 ; NURS 7309 ; NURS 7909 ) in order to graduate.
Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA (“B”). Grades of “D” and “F” will not apply toward any graduate degree, but will be computed in the GPA. No more than 7 hours of “C-“, “C,” or “C+” will be applied towards meeting degree requirements.
The grade “I” (Incomplete) may be assigned by the faculty member in any course in which the student is unable to complete the work due to extraordinary events beyond the individual’s control that are acceptable to the faculty member. The “I” may not be used to extend the term for students who complete the course with an unsatisfactory grade. Unless the student completes the requirements for removal of the “I” within 90 days from the end of the semester or summer session in which it was received (see University Calendar), the “I” will change to an “F,” whether or not the student is enrolled. The faculty member may grant up to a 45-day extension if sufficient extenuating circumstances exist. At the end of the extension period, the “I” grade will automatically revert to “F” if the student has not completed the requirements. The student will be certified for graduation only when all requirements are met, including the removal of “I” grades. If a student has an “I” in a course necessary to fulfill degree requirements in the semester in which he or she expects to graduate, the certification process and graduation will automatically be deferred to the next term.
Academic disqualification from the graduate nursing major will occur when the student:
1. fails to maintain a 3.0 GPA in graduate school.
2. fails to earn a grade of “B” (3.0) or better when repeating a course.
3. willfully misrepresents patient data or clinical practice.
4. willfully places any patient in physical or emotional jeopardy.
5. is placed on probation by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
6. fails to disclose a felony conviction.
7. fails to disclose disciplinary action or diversion by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
8. fails to complete all degree requirements within five years of entering graduate nursing coursework.
Before being recommended for graduation, every candidate for the master’s degree in nursing is required to either pass a final comprehensive examination or complete the oral defense of a thesis. The written examination will place emphasis on the student’s area of concentration and will be administered by selected nursing faculty each semester. The candidate must be registered in the semester the comprehensive exam is taken.
When the student elects to complete a thesis, the candidate must enroll for thesis credit each semester until the thesis is completed. Students must register for thesis credit in the semester in which they defend.
Family Nurse Practitioner students must complete a minimum of 500 clock hours to meet the academic and practicum requirement for national certification.
All requirements for the MSN degree must be completed in 5 calendar years.